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The Spaniard, who was given a retroactive ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in February, has always protested his innocence and has not given up in his fight against the decision.

"His lawyers are studying other channels such as the possibility of taking it to Tribunal in Strasbourg (the European Court of Human Rights)," Contador's spokesman said.

In an interview with the sports daily Marca, Contador explained why.

"Last Friday, I spoke to my lawyers and they told me they didn't see it as an option to appeal to the Swiss Federal Court because it could be a waste of time and it wouldn't have a future," Contador said.

"With such little chance of success we have decided not to appeal, because in the best case scenarios, they would return the case to CAS and to the same judges."

The Saxo Bank rider is taking some days off from his training schedule over Easter to rest and said he had not yet decided which race he would return at when his ban finishes on August 5.

Contador was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title by CAS in February and all his victories from last season, including the Giro d'Italia, were nullified.

He tested positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol while competing in the 2010 Tour and blamed the result on having eaten contaminated meat.